Star and planet finder.



PATEN'IED OCT. 2, 1906.

L. BARRI'IT. STAR AND PLANET FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.5. 1905.

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WITHOU T A TELESQQPE INV ATTQRNEY PATBNTED OCT. 2, 1906.

L. BARRITI. STAR AND PLANET FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.5, 1905.

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WHNESSES:

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INVENIOR LENBARRITT, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

` i STAR AND APLANET FINDER.

To all `whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I/,CLnoN BAnnrr'r, a eiti zen of the United States ofAmerica,resid at the borough of Brooklyn, in the city o New York, Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Starand Planet Finder, of which the followis a specification.

his invention has for its object to provide a simple, efficient, andinexpensive planisphere device adapted for use by expert or amateurastronomers or by teachers and students generally for enabling them toquickly and accurately locate and identify and distinguish the movingplanets or' the solar system relatively'to the ixed stars orconstellations of the heavens at any time and by the aid ofannually-arranged reference-tables which specify the relative positionsof the planets at proper times.

The invention-Will' iirst be described and then will be particularlydefined in the claims hereinafter set forth.

Reference is made to the accom anying drawings, formingpart of thisspec' cation, and in Which- Figure 1 is a planor face view of theimproved star and-planet nderlwith the plane of. the eclipti, indicatedby a heavy-dotted line. Fig. 2 is 'an enlarged detail cross-sectionalview taken on the line :c in Fig. 1. Fig. 3.is an enlargaed detail lanview of an inner ortion of t e planisphere. Fig. 4 is an e arged detailplan vieW of a marginal ace view of a planet reference tablet or tablefor the year 1905. ,f

The numeral 1 `indicates a suitable and preferably vsquare base-plate orbacking to which ispivoted at 2 in the North Star position a revolubleplanisphere 3, on which the iixed stars or constellations 4, includingthe Milky Way 5, are produced in any ordinary 1 or approved manner andpreferably by printing or lithogra hy, making them appear in white upona lack or dark ground, so -as to be easily visible.. On the planis here,3 is roduced distinctively and prefera ly in `red mk a heavy ellipticalline 6, which indicates-the lplane of the' ecliptic or theapparent pathof t e sun. This ecliptic line 6 is preferably graduated sixty degrees,which .are preferably indicated in successive ves 5,10, 15, &c.,from oneto three hundred and sixty, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the.,

Specification of Letters Patent. Appunti@ mea 00am s, 1905. 'snm No.281.472.

' months also subdivided at the ortion of the planisphere, and Fig. 5 isa 'right of the symbol into .three hundred andv and by the numerals 1,

ymeans comprises by ratentea oct. v'2, 1906.

drawin to facilitate placement upon the planisp ere of thelanet-indicators hereinafter described. he planisphere disk 3 preferablybears at its outer rim portion the names ofthe usual zodiacal sign-names7, and within the circle of said signs are produced consecutively thenames of the from January to December. The

spaces occupied by these month-names are outer part into dayspaces, inwhich only the alternate days for each corresponding month may, benumerically indicated. f

Over the planisphere-disk 3 is applied a face-plate 8, which, like thebacking 1, preferably has a generally square form. Interposedspacing-pieces 9, held at the four corners to and between the plates 18, permit rotation of the disk 3 onits axis 2 between these plates. Theface-plate 8 has a large and preferably elliptical interior openin 10,through which most of the star-field o the planisphere 3 is visible.Said plate 8 also, preferably, has a series of se ental marginalopenings 11, through whlch the month and day indices on the disk 3 maybe seen. Within the margin of said openings 11 are roducedon the plate 8series of numerals 1 to 12 indicating the hourly time from midnight'tOmidday and from middayto midnight. horizon-opening 10 of the plate 8 areroduced on said plate the direction-sym ols NorthH and South," and tothel left and North are produced the hrases Eastern horizon and Westernorizon. At the north corner of the face-plate 8 is preferably producedthe title phrase The heavens without a telescope, under which appearsthe phrase Abovesand below the elliptical See the accompanying tablesfor moving planet-disks. ,f

Toward the south appears the phrase Only those stars visible to thenakedY eye are shown," while to the east appears the phrase The path ofplanets is shown by red ellipse, and to the west appearsv the hrase Holdthe map over your head-t e top north-and you will see the stars just asthey appear in the heavens." The precise char"- acter andlocation ofthese information or direction imprints upon the face-plate 8 are IOOimmaterial, as they may widely vary as occasion may suggest or require.

The planet locating and distinguishing preference a series of adjustableindicators 12 in the form ofdisks IIO 'divisions quite. unlike planetnumerically indicating'only the. dfethree hundredzaud sixty,

having some suitable means of attachment. to the face of the planishere3 vsuch means,

ermitting the the earth) from Mercury to Neptune, one

'plarret-naine 'being on each planetdisk or indicator.

"'Dhe tables Aenabling any one ordinary intelligence to quickly,feas'ily, and properly llocate-the indicators l2 or vany 'equivalent'planet-indicators upon the planis here 3 are preferably made 1in,separate tab eter card storm, `one for each year, the tablet lror 1905Ibeing ks'lsiown in Fig. 5 .of the drawings. "libe numerals lrangingVafter the` planetnames in squares orlsulbdi-visions of this table andpreferably printed 'in red indicate the degrees of the ecliptic plane ator near which the vindicators 12 are :to Pbe located `upon theplanispliere '3 at the .dates `appearing, preferably, above therespective de -.ee.-markson .the table. One or more o .theseannually-arranged tablets -or talb'les may lbe supplied -Wit'h .eachp'lanispheredeyice. 'lt 110W 1s ro osed to supply a 4series .of twentytables llinr f ocat- .11 planets relatively :to the fixed stars 'for aeriod ol" twenty years ahead of the date oiiputblication of theplanisphere.

A prior" planisphere not accompanied @by adjustable planet-indicatorsand reference tablets or tables-ttory loca/ting them iat the eclipticandre uirng consultmg an almanac to determine llore time at which angiven planet rises, souths, .orsetsbefore bemg able to locatethe'planets relatively .to the fixed stars Iliad its graduated eclipticdegreesarranged in tweve groups of thirty degnees, and one group for`.each adjacent im rinfted name .of e ber, and each monthlygroup:lia-ving its degrees indicatedby vnumerals '10.20 vand which is an.arrangement of the degree subgrees from one "to inclusive, .at theecliptic plane .andiwit-hout .adjacent Iconfusing month-names.

The hereinfdescribed annually-.arranged tabletsor .tabl-es Wouldbeserviceable if the de ree-graduations -at the ecliptic. plane wereincated iin :manner other than hereinbefore mentioned-as, for instance,by lines radi- ,ating from the planispheresaxis to its periphery-Whereatsaid lines may be numerically marked atthe graduated .degree-points butythe numerical marliin of .the degrees in fives from 'one to three undredand .sixty directly on or near the imprint lof the' ecliptic plane.,,as-herein shown and described, is 1 reerred, because itavoids allpreliminaryca culations, such as-by eye measurements along lanisphere ator nearI prlnting or otherwise the Anames of" all the planets of thesolarsystem (excepting -month, day,

month from January to l ecem .the liereinndescrihed" radial lines, andalso avoids search for month names next'deg'ree indications of theecliptic, 1n order to-ascertain the precise degree posi- .tions at .the:imprinted ecliptic plane tov which the planet-indicators are to beadjusted, and thus assures very quick, easy, and accurate ad'ustment ofthe indicators upon any part o the planisphere in accordance with theaccompanying table by any intelligent adult -orfchild 'pursuing `thestudy of lthe heavens.

Illustrative off the :use of .this-.invention the planrisp'here f3 inlFig. il fof .the drawings is shown turned upon its axs 2 until thedaiteof l=Oeltober=5 registers with :the .hourfof 4 -a. m. By referring .to'the illust/rated table arranged for the year 1 905 it Will beseen thatthe planet lVenus stands :at-aboutft'he .one lhundred and sixtiethdegree, and the indicator 1 2, marked Venusf is therelioqre appliedorrafixedfto ilhe plan-iSphere :3 4at 'or near the numericall markedfoneehundred .and sixtieth degree-off its [ecliptic planef. Said tableshows :thatJ'upiter yand, Neptune voccupy .respective positions-.at

the siXfty-ifth .and lone hundme't'h degrees, and their indicatingd.iskswill also be appliedfto fthe planisph'cre 3 at. these respective d y reepositions at. orrnear the ecliptic plane 6, Si as shown in Figs. 1 andI2 of thedmawings. lf new the directions at the rightshand lcorner ofthe face-.plate 8-u Hold .the mapowrer your head--the top to the no 4IL-bre iollllowed, the virripnints aof-rtlhe fixed stars andftheirconstellations on the planispheme I3 vand '.the disks 12 appliedthereto Will to ether.' clearly indi- .cate .on the plamis'phereteprecise yrelative positions the visiblestar-sand planets occupy in ytheheavens `at fcura.. m. .onOetolvcr- 5,

1.905. By simply turningftl-:e plan'isphere 3 Y on its pvot2fto amypositionindicatingitlhe vand hour, with .refemence'to A:the reparedtable for any given year, the .melative positions of .theyedstars-andmoving planetsmay b'e quickly, easily, and certainlyindicated at any time oda-yor night during that year by adjusting theplanet'indicating disksthe planis-phere 3 ator'near the ecliptie. lane 6atproper positions in accendance witili the tables.y

Itisrobvious with this plenispliere l.device and accompanying tables anyperson of ordinary intelligence will beyable to yiind the .fixed :starsandtheirconstellations and also locate -and identify. and most clearlydistinguishthe planets appearing as vmorning .or evening stars orotherwise any time and yfor any `numlwr.of'years forwhich the tables maybe prepared. The `Very large number of persons, broth professionals andamateurs, interested inthe study offthe heavens may in this simpledevice have always :conveniently .at hand a readily-adjustable celestialchart enabling the'mby the aid of the easily-read reiierence-tablesY to-uufailingly locate all the fixed stars and their. constellations andIOO IIO

clearly distinguish `them from theplanetaryy system at any year, day,month, and hour. v

printed p ane of the ecliptic, and it was spe.

cially directed that with this prior device an ephemeris or nauticalalmanac be used to determine Where to locate 'the planet-indicators uponthe planisphere at various times of any given year for which theephemeris was issued.

The tablets or tables accompanying the planisphere in accordance withthis invention cost but a trifle by comparison with the cost of anephemeris for a eriod of twenty'years. It also requires specia trainingor skill to accurately use ephemeris or almanac tables to distinguishthe planets from the ixed stars by a process of selection of propertables from the great mass of tabulated information for astronomers andnavi ators usually compiled in these volumes. Tiis trouble of selectingand using the proper ephemeris or almanac tables to determine the planetpositions would alone discoura e o ular or Wide use of a star and planetndlerlby novices in astronomy and navigation, aside altogether from thealmost prohibitive cost, bulk, and Weight of many volumes of theephemeris or almanac, if used only for distinguishing the lanets Jfromthe fixed stars, as is pro osed to be done by the aid of this improveplanishere device of Which the accompanying.

tablets or tables thus obviously form an important part.

The special object of this invention is to rovide a planisphere-havingimprints `of the edstarsand of a graduated ecliptic plane withadjustable planet-indicators and accomf panying tablets or tables,by theaid of which any young or older student may quickly and easily andaccurately apply the planet-inditors at or near the imprinted eclipticplane of the planisphere-disk and Without requiring the inconvenient useof expensive andbulky ephemeris or almanac volumes. This invention byincluding initself all necessary means or appliances for quickly and Yaccurately locating and visibly positioning the planets relatively tothe xed stars is for this purpose the full equivalent of and an obviousimprovement upon any prior lanisphere device necessarily accompanie byan ephem` eris or almanac, the proper use of Whichvis not understood bythe very4 large majority of intelligent persons Who are unable to makecalculations from such volumes, but desire a fairly accurate knowledgeof the celestial sphere. In other Words, the object of this invention isto provide at loW cost the most complete and effective combinationofsimple appliances for easily and'accurately locating t e withoutaborious or inconvenient or expensive calculations that has as yet beendevised and with a view to stimulatin and widely lpopularizing theasthetic and elpful study of the heavens.

lanets relatively to theiixed stars u Various modications may bemade inthe form yof the planet-indicators and in the method of applyingor'aflixing them to the lanisphere 3as, for instance, the lanetindicatorattachment may be efecte magnetically or in manner other than'by theteeth or ins 13, herein specially shown and describe The terms imprintsand imprinted also are`to be construed as including1 any method ofproducing on the planisp ere the desired representations of the iiXedstars and their constellations and the graduated ecliptic plane.

This improved planisphere device may also be used to indicate the phasesof the moon for any month of any year by employing a series of disks 12,indicating in proper manner the moon phases-new moon, first quarter,full moon, last uarter. By reference to specially-prepare tablesrelatively indicating the days of the month and the degrees of theecliptic said moon-disks may be aplied to the planisphereat the eclipticlane ine 6. For instance, for the month o December, 1905, the tableshows that the kmoon enters as new moon on December 1, at tWo degrees;enters the 2 first quarter on December 7, at ninety-six degrees; becomesfull moon7 on December 14, at one hundred and ninety-two degrees, andenters the last quarter von December 21, at eighteen degrees. By placingthe corresponding moonphase disks at the degree marks -2 96 192 18 onthe ecliptic plane line 6 these disks Will indicate new moon, firstquarter, full moon, and last quarter phases, respectively, for saidmonth of December, 1905. If desired, but one full-moon disk may be usedand placed at the corresponding degree indicating such (phase in thetable.

This improve planisphere device may also be used to determined theapparent or relative position of the sun upon the ecliptic at `any dayor date by simply layiig a ruler or straight-edge directly from the rthStar 2 to the desired date at the margin of thev disk 3 and the point ofintersection or the degree imprinted Where the ruler crosses the planeof the ecliptic 6 Will indicate at saidfecli tic the apparent positionof the sun at that ate.-

l claim as my invention-fA 1. A star and planet iinder comprising aplanisphere having imprints of the fixed stars and a graduated imprintof the ecliptic plane,

adjustable planet-indicators adapted to said planisphere at or near itsgraduated ecliptic lane, and one or more accom anying tabibts or tableshaving imprints i entifying the s ses;

planetsand their mspeetive-positions at cer-` tain times1 relatively t'othe degrees; of the planishere eolptie plane, substantially as de-vscribe planispherehavingimprints of the iixedstars and a graduatedimprint ofthe ecliptic plane, adjustable planet-indicatorsadaptedi tosaidf planisphele at or nearits graduatedA ecliptic plane, and one'ormore accompanying' annu ally-arranged tablets or tables havin imprintsidentifying. the y planets and then* "respective ositions at certaintimes relatively to; the grecs ofE the planispllere eeliptic plane,lsubstantially asdescribed.

3; A star' and planet finder comprising a' planisphere havingimprintsof' the fixed' stars, andagraduatedim rmt' of* the ecliptic: lane with.appliedl orf-a jacent numerical degree indications, adjustable planetindicatorsada ted tosaidl planispliere atl or near its grauatedecliptio'plane, andoneor more aecomP prints identifying theplanetsand their re- 2 5 spective ositionsat certain timesrelatively toythel egrees of the planispliereL ecllptic plane,substantially'as-describedi 4; A star' and planet finder. comprising'-a: planisphere havingimprints of the fixed istars, landa'graduatedimdprint off the -ecliptic plane with' applied or a('acent' numerical degree' indicationsarrange from one totlmee'hundredandsixty, inclusive; adjustable planetindicatorsadapted tosaid" panispliere at or near its graduated ecli 'tie-plane, andoneor moreIaccompanfyii 1g ta lets or tables-having imprints identiyingtlieplanet's-iandtheir re-v spective ositions'at'--certain timesrelatively' to' the` egrees-- of-I thel planisphere' ec'liptic plane,substantiall' as described 5. A- star and5 p a planisphere havingimprintsof'tlie fixedistars andfagraduated imprintoftlie eclipticplane,- adjustable planetlindics'itorshaving attac'liingpoint'sdor teethadapted to detachably' fasten themv` to the lplsmisphere `at?, ornearits imprinted eeliptic =p ane; and" one cir-.morelaccompanyingt'a'bletsor tablesliavingimprints identify-lng*` theplanetsJ and their* respective' vpositions at certain times relativelyto* the degreesofthe planispliere ecliptic plane, sub-` stantially asdescribed.

6; A star-andl planet; finderY comprisiigai faceeplate havinganinteriorfliorizon-openmgf and" outer hour-marks; a planispher'erevolubl'e'relatively to the face-'piateand'havin g imprints- 'of vthefixedstarsand` ai radu'ate l imprint of the ecllptic plane visib eat'saidl horizoimpening'and'also havingfmonth andl `day-indices visiblerelatively tothe hourmarlisofgl the `facelate; combinedv Withadjustablev pianeti-in icato'rs`v adapted1 to'- saidi p'lnisplere Iator'near its graduated-imprintedecli ticplanejandloneormore accomanyingi-tablet's-or tables-having'imprint's i entif 2i Al'starand planetndercomprisingfa a'nying' tablets or' tables having imnetf findercomprising w 1 ying` thel planets; and'l their res ective` positlons atcertain timesrelativel to tlede- -gxeesofl the=plani here eclipticp1ane;'sub jstantiallyras descr-i edi 7. Al st'ar'andplanet finder'comprising a 'face-plate having 'an-interior horizon-opening and outerhourhmarlis; a'- planisphere revoluble relatively' to the face-plateland' havin imprints of tile iiiied stars, and a graduate imprint of thee'cliptic'y plane with` applied or 7 5 adjacent numerical degreeindications and visibleat saidE horizon-opening and; also-liaving month`and day indices visible relatively tloe the' hour-marks of theface-plate, combined with adjustable planet indicatorsada ted" to said;planis here at or' near its fgra uatedimprinted-'eci tic plane; and oneor more accompanyingta lets-or tables having-imprints identifying'theplanets and their 'respectivex positions at certain times rela- 'tivelto tile-degrees of the lanisphereeclipytic p ane,- substantially asdescribed.

8: A starand planet' finder comprising a face'eplate having an interiorhorizon-opening 'andV outer hour-marks;l aplanisphere revolublerelatively to the faceplat'e and having imprints of" the lined` stars'anda raduated imprint of theecliptic plane visib e at saidhorizon-opening and' also having month'and day indices visible'relatively to the hour- Inarks of' the f'acelate,v combined withadjustable planet-in icators having attaching pointsor teeth adapted" todetachably fasten l`themt'o#saidplanisjphere' yat or' near itsgraduatediI'nprin-ted*ecli tic plane, and one ormore IooA.accon'ipanying' tab ets or' tables having imf prints identifyingv tileplanets and their respective ositions at certain` times relatively tothe egrees of the planisplierel ecliptic plane; substantially asdescribed. v

9. A' stari and' planet: finder comprisin a faceplate havihganinteriorliorizon-openlng and marginal@ openings andL adjacent Hour- ?marl's; a'planis here revolublebeneatntlie l'faceplate and' aving imprints off thexed .1 stars 'and f ofv the ecliptic lane lvisible through Xsaidliorizon-opening= ci? the face-plate' and Falso' having' month-and 'dayindices visible 'through' the marginal openings ofr thev face- Vplate;combined with adjustable planet-i11- icatbrsfadapt'ed' to' said'planispl1'ere ator near its imprinted e'cliptic plane, substanftially'as described;

10; A` star'and planet iinder comprising a face-plate having an interiorhorizon-opening and' marginali openings andi adjacentI hourmarls; aplanis here revoluble beneath the face-plate'and avinimprintsofftliefixed stars and* a graduate imprint of1 the 'eclipticfplane' visible vthrou hsa1dl horizon-o I ening ofthe face'- late ;saivplanisphere also aving -mcnth an 'da indices visible through the'marginal o enln s ofthe face-plate, combined Wit adjustableplanetindicators adapted:v to said planispliere at; or near its :3c

IOS

graduated eoliptio plane, substantially as de- 1 through the marginalopenings of the facesorbed. plate, combined with adjustable planet-indi-11. A star and planet finder comprising a cators having attaching pointsor teeth face-plate having an interior horizon-opening adapted todetachably fasten them to the 5 and marginal openings and adjacenthourplanisphere at or near its imprinted ecliptic 15 marks; aplanisphere revoluble beneath the plane, substantially as described.l

face-plate and having imprints of the iiXed LEON BARRITT. stars and ofthe eoliptlo flane visible through Witnesses: said horizon-opening o theface-plate and FLORENCE C.v SMITH,

1o also having month and day indices visible ALVIN K. GOODWIN.

